Celtic boss Martin O’Neill has admitted Arne Engels could be on the move this summer amid Nottingham Forest reportedly testing the waters for the midfielder.
The Reds set their sights on Engels during the winter transfer window but had three bids rebuffed by the Scottish giants. Offers worth £14 million and £17m were rejected, then an eyebrow-raising package worth up to £25m went the same way shortly before the deadline.
Forest have retained an interest in the 22-year-old since then and it seems they are trying to get ahead in the battle for his signature. According to Belgian publication Voetbal Krant, the club are “pushing hard” to sign Engels and have submitted a “first formal offer”.
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It comes as O’Neill has discussed the possibility of the Belgian departing. The ex-Reds manager explained his former club tried their luck too late previously, but suggested doing business early could be a possibility this time around.
Asked if he is braced for interest in Engels, O’Neill told The Scottish Sun: “I would imagine so, yeah. At this minute I don’t think anything has happened.
“Where it carries on up towards the end of the window then suddenly something happens you’re not ready because it’s happening too late. All those bids Nottingham Forest made came in on the 11th hour so that was just a non-goer for us at that particular stage.
“Then he got injured just after that. So if some things can happen a bit earlier then maybe there’s some resignation on my part there too.”
The possibility of Engels heading elsewhere before the window closes is “growing by the minute”, according to Voetbal Krant. Premier League trio Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham are also keeping tabs on the Celtic ace.
Engels also has interest from abroad in the form of Lazio, Villarreal, Roma and Atletico Madrid. But Forest are said to have been “trying to lead the charge for quite some time” as they look to strengthen their midfield resources.
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Matters could soon come to a head one way or another as an “agreement” on the player’s future is “expected to be reached” this week. Although he has two years remaining on his contract north of the border, it is “virtually certain” his time with Celtic is coming to an end.
Engels joined the Scottish side from Augsburg two years ago in an £11m deal. He has racked up close to 100 appearances and has scored 17 goals for the club.
The Reds are yet to make any signings this summer. Finding a replacement for England international Elliot Anderson, following his £116m switch to Manchester City, will be top of the agenda.
Engels is far from the only midfielder to have been linked with filling Anderson’s boots Trentside. The likes of Spurs’ Lucas Bergvall, Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi and Liverpool’s Curtis Jones have also been identified as potential targets.
Whoever comes in will be part of a new era at the City Ground. Recently-appointed head coach Oliver Glasner will have his own ideas on possible transfers and will be aiming to make the most of pre-season with his squad.
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